Medical Robotics

A team of Vanderbilt researchers has developed a wirelessly activated device that mimics the wavelike muscular function in the esophagus and small intestine responsible for transporting food and viscous fluids for digestion. The soft-robotic prototype, which is driven by strong magnets controlled by a wearable external actuator,… Read More

Robert Webster III, the Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Mechanical Engineering (left) and Dr. Duke Herrell, a urologic surgeon at VUMC, aim to make prostate surgery less invasive with a small endoscopic robotic system (Photo courtesy VUMC) Vanderbilt collaborators focused on minimally invasive prostate surgery are developing an endoscopic robotic… Read More

Robert J. Webster III, whose work has led to tools and methods for surgeries that require little or no incision, has been named the Richard A. Schroeder Chair in Mechanical Engineering. He is among Vanderbilt University’s newest endowed chair holders. In all, eight recipients were celebrated for their path-breaking… Read More

The new VISE space at Medical Center North features a mock OR and a large area for collaboration. The Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering hosts it 7th Annual Symposium Dec. 12 with invited speakers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Johns Hopkins University and the Chinese… Read More

From the left, Associate Professor Robert Webster III, Dr. S. Duke Herrell and Harvey Branscomb Professor Michael Miga, lead a VISE team developing an image guidance interface for robotic surgery systems. (Anne Rayner/Vanderbilt) A Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering (VISE) team is developing an image guidance interface for the… Read More

Lauren Branscombe and Joshua Fleck have much in common. Both are juniors in mechanical engineering, focused on medical robotics. Both work in Biomedical and Assistive Technology (BAT) lab with Karl Zelik, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and biomedical engineering. Both plan to pursue a Ph.D. in mechanical… Read More

Professor Robert Webster and his team have developed a new image-guided surgical system that uses steerable needles to essentially suck out clots. Watch a video demo of the system in action and read the full story. Read More

Kevin Cleary Kevin Cleary, Ph.D., an expert in medical robotics at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., will describe advances in pediatric surgery on Friday, Jan. 18, at the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering. His talk, entitled “Robotics, Navigation and Image Guidance for Minimally Invasive Pediatric Interventions,” will begin… Read More

Though the da Vinci Surgical System seems like cutting-edge technology, most surgeons are quick to admit that it a first-generation device — the model T Ford of its kind. Strong collaborations exist between Vanderbilt University Medical Center surgeons and School of Engineering engineers, allowing development of the next generation of… Read More